Work Support Venting Structure With Annular Gas Discharge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing work supports have a complex structure due to the need for supply and discharge passages and ventilation passages, leading to increased housing size in the radial direction.
Innovation Solution
A work support design that eliminates the need for ventilation holes and passages in the table by using an annular discharge passage between the support rod and housing, allowing excess gas to be discharged through a discharge port, simplifying the structure and reducing size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If supply and discharge passages and ventilation passages are provided in the table, then the work support can function properly, but the structure becomes complicated and the housing size increases in the radial direction
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the ventilation function from the table structure and relocates it to the housing. The housing now includes a ventilation passage that communicates with the interior space, eliminating the need for ventilation passages in the table. This separation simplifies the overall structure while maintaining proper ventilation functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the ventilation passage function into the housing structure itself. By integrating the ventilation passage directly into the housing, the design eliminates the need for separate ventilation passages in the table, thereby simplifying the overall structure and reducing complexity.
2Reliability
If ventilation passages are provided in the lower wall of the housing, then ventilation is achieved, but the housing size increases in the radial direction
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the orientation of the ventilation passage from a radial configuration (in the lower wall) to an axial configuration (through the leading end). By extending the ventilation passage in the axial direction rather than radially, the housing maintains a compact radial size while still achieving effective ventilation through the interior space.
3Reliability
If multiple passages are provided in the table, then gas supply and discharge is achieved, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The invention makes the housing interior space multi-functional by using it as both an accommodation chamber for gas and a ventilation passage. This single space serves multiple purposes: accommodating compressed gas during operation and providing ventilation when needed. This eliminates the need for separate dedicated passages in both the table and housing, significantly simplifying the overall structure while maintaining all necessary functions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design results in a compact, mechanically simple work support that does not require ventilation holes or passages in the table, achieving a downsized structure while maintaining functionality.
Implementation Method 1
A piston 12 is inserted in the housing 1 so as to be movable in the axial direction. The piston 12 is configured to be actuated by compressed gas supplied to an actuation chamber 13 to drive the support rod 3 for locking via the collet 5.
Implementation Method 2
A biasing means is configured to bias the support rod 3 and the output member 24 so that the support rod 3 and the output member 24 recede from each other.
Implementation Method 3
The switching means 40 is configured to switch, through movement of the outer peripheral surface of the output member 24 across the communication hole 41, between a state in which the actuation chamber 13 is communicatively connected to the inlet chamber 29 via the communication hole 41 and a state in which the actuation chamber 13 is communicatively connected to the outlet chamber 32 via the communication hole 41.
Implementation Method 4
Compressed gas in the outlet chamber 32 is discharged through the annular space 2a of the discharge passage 42 to an outside of the housing 1 from the discharge port 42a of the discharge passage 42.
Data Source
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AI summary
A discharge passage (42) of a work support includes: an annular space (2a) created between an insertion hole (2), provided through a leading end portion of a housing (1), and a support rod (3); and a discharge port (42a) provided at the leading end portion of the housing (1). The work support is designed so that an amount of gas pushed out of an outlet chamber (32) by an output member (24) when the output member (24) moves from its base-end-side limit position to its leading-end-side limit position is larger than a capacity of an accommodation chamber (45) created on a base end side relative to the support rod (3) due to movement of the support rod (3) from its base-end-side limit position to a leading-end-side position.